PANJIM: Gearing up for the forthcoming 2017 Assembly elections, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to evaluate the performance of each of its sitting MLAs before finalising the party tickets. The saffron party will also undertake a special survey in those non-ruling constituencies to ascertain the party base.
Following directives from the party leadership in New Delhi, the BJP will be hiring two professional agencies to gauge party’s base in each of the 40 constituencies, including the performance of their legislators in 21 constituencies. The constituencies where BJP backed Independent MLAs have come to power, especially in South Goa, would be also reviewed.
BJP state president Vinay Tendulkar confirmed the decision of party high command, which has instructed the State unit to evaluate the performance of each of its sitting MLAs before deciding on their name for upcoming 2017 polls. “At party level, we have already conducted the survey in each of the ruling constituencies and the response has been very good,” he said.
“We will have two more surveys that would be done by professional agencies which will gauge party’s base in each of the constituencies. We will also conduct similar survey in the constituencies where the party does not have MLA,” Tendulkar said.
After gaining historical majority in March 2012, BJP has to face a major challenge during the ensuing polls in absence of Party’s face and people’s leader Manohar Parrikar (Union Defence Minister).
Sources claim that majority of the sitting MLAs may get party ticket once again, as their performance has been very good, with BJP voters happy with their leaders. “The only worry is about Panjim MLA Siddarat Kuncolienkar, as most of the long time BJP senior supporters are not very happy with the MLA,” sources said.
It is been learnt that Kuncolienkar’s arbitrary decisions, without consulting the local BJP karyakartas, has upset many with issues being raised before Parrikar.
Refusing to comment on whether Medium of Instruction (MoI) issue may play a major role in the election, the newly re-elected President said that development and transparency in government would be our poll planks.
